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#DutchGP: Missfortune in Assen race

Jonas Folger wasn’t able to succeed another very strong weekend in style at the historic TT Assen; the Yamaha rider escaped unhurt from a crash during the race.

Constantly changeable weather was also on race day an unpleasant companionship at the meanwhile traditional championship’s visit to the historic TT Circuit on the last weekend in June. After a violent downpour this morning, the got started in dry conditions. Jonas Folger, who achieved his best starting position in MotoGP™ so far with sixth on the grid during Saturday’s qualifying, left the line also greatly this time. But after the back straight he made a mistake on the brake for which he dropped down to the far end of the wild pack.

In lap ten, by this time, the 23-year-old German rider made his way up to 17th already, the early end of his race came. A harmless fall losing the front in turn one was the end of what would have been a strong comeback.

The championship moves over now to Germany where the rising star is excited to race at the legendary Sachsenring in front of his home fans in just one week.

“It’s a shame because we also had a strong weekend here in Assen. But the race began with an early mistake during the opening lap when I was too late on the brake in turn six. After I had to go off the track, I had no other choice than to return at the far end of the field. Subsequently, I struggled to pass quickly some riders such the likes of Tito Rabat and Co. But as soon as I had a clear line ahead of me, I tried to find my rhythm immediately and to make up ground.”

“But, a couple of laps later, I crashed out of the race. It was a harmless fall when I lost the front though it came quite surprisingly for me, because I felt comfortable with the bike and the conditions too and I wasn’t necessarily pushing to the utmost limits. In any case, I’m upset about myself because during my one and only free lap, when I had a clear line, I set a really strong lap time. So, I’m pissed about that fact that I wasn’t able to round up this weekend in style because of this stupid mistake by my own. Without this we could have had a strong race today again. I should have stayed calm to follow Crutchlow as I could have race the same rhythm of this group for sure.”